To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

South Dakota KIDS COUNT Project ♦ PH: (605) 677-6432 ♦ FAX: (605) 677-5427 ♦ Email: sdkidscount@usd.edu ♦ http://www.sdkidscount.org
Introduction
The number of deaths occurring in the first year of
life per 1,000 live births is called the infant mortality
rate (IMR). The IMR indicates the level of health in a
country1.The rate is an important measurement used to
compare countries around the world and to determine
specific populations that require more intervention.
The United State’s IMR is 6.6 deaths per 1,000 live
births, compared to the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) average of
4.62.
The health care system is gradually shifting to a
new paradigm with a focus on individual needs and
preventative health. This paradigm is important for
population health. If society can learn how to utilize
preventative medicine, then we can minimize the
costs associated with
reactive medicine and the
resources required to treat
chronic conditions. The
paradigm shift is important
to the infant mortality
rate because providing
education for mothers-to-
be and enhancing their
understanding of risk
factors before, during, and
after pregnancies may be
significant components
in reducing the IMR. The
three major causes of
infant mortality include:
congenital malformations,
low birth rate, and sudden
infant death syndrome
(SIDS)3.
Facts on Kids in South Dakota
Volume 14, 1st Quarter-2014
Infant Mortality: Task Force Strategies & Educational Initiatives
Introduction
This issue of Facts on KIDS in South Dakota was
written by Anya Point. It was an Independent Study
project for a Health Services Administration class at the
University of South Dakota. The paper focused on infant
mortality along epidemiologic dimensions of time, place,
and person. The paper analyzed South Dakota’s infant
mortality rates and the six specific strategies aimed at
lowering the rate
The state of South Dakota has an IMR that is higher
than the national average, identified as 7.0 infant deaths
per 1,000 live births. Governor Dennis Daugaard has
taken action and organized a Task Force to study infant
mortality and develop strategies to reduce the IMR. The
ultimate goal is to improve birth outcomes and the health
of infants4. The following are the recommendations
designed by the Task Force to reduce the IMR:
• Improve access to early, comprehensive prenatal
care
• Promote awareness and implementation of safe
sleep practices
• Develop community-based systems of support for
families
• Conduct statewide education campaigns to reduce
infant mortality
• Develop resources for health professionals specific
to infant mortality prevention
• Improve data collection and analysis
:
Three Main Causes of U.S. Infant Death:
Improve access to early,
comprehensive prenatal care
For purposes here, the state of South Dakota was divided
into four regions (Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, and
Southeast) and shows the correlation between IMR and
the percent of early prenatal
care. The goal of this visual
representation was to identify
whether a correlation does
exist between women who
received early prenatal care
in the specific county and the
infant mortality rate reported
in that county. The decision
to utilize prenatal care
early in the pregnancy is a
behavioral choice and could
be based on the level of
education a woman received
and/or the level of income.
Therefore, it is important to
understand which counties
have a reduced level of early
prenatal care to establish
an intervention to alter the

South Dakota KIDS COUNT Project ♦ PH: (605) 677-6432 ♦ FAX: (605) 677-5427 ♦ Email: sdkidscount@usd.edu ♦ http://www.sdkidscount.org
Introduction
The number of deaths occurring in the first year of
life per 1,000 live births is called the infant mortality
rate (IMR). The IMR indicates the level of health in a
country1.The rate is an important measurement used to
compare countries around the world and to determine
specific populations that require more intervention.
The United State’s IMR is 6.6 deaths per 1,000 live
births, compared to the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) average of
4.62.
The health care system is gradually shifting to a
new paradigm with a focus on individual needs and
preventative health. This paradigm is important for
population health. If society can learn how to utilize
preventative medicine, then we can minimize the
costs associated with
reactive medicine and the
resources required to treat
chronic conditions. The
paradigm shift is important
to the infant mortality
rate because providing
education for mothers-to-
be and enhancing their
understanding of risk
factors before, during, and
after pregnancies may be
significant components
in reducing the IMR. The
three major causes of
infant mortality include:
congenital malformations,
low birth rate, and sudden
infant death syndrome
(SIDS)3.
Facts on Kids in South Dakota
Volume 14, 1st Quarter-2014
Infant Mortality: Task Force Strategies & Educational Initiatives
Introduction
This issue of Facts on KIDS in South Dakota was
written by Anya Point. It was an Independent Study
project for a Health Services Administration class at the
University of South Dakota. The paper focused on infant
mortality along epidemiologic dimensions of time, place,
and person. The paper analyzed South Dakota’s infant
mortality rates and the six specific strategies aimed at
lowering the rate
The state of South Dakota has an IMR that is higher
than the national average, identified as 7.0 infant deaths
per 1,000 live births. Governor Dennis Daugaard has
taken action and organized a Task Force to study infant
mortality and develop strategies to reduce the IMR. The
ultimate goal is to improve birth outcomes and the health
of infants4. The following are the recommendations
designed by the Task Force to reduce the IMR:
• Improve access to early, comprehensive prenatal
care
• Promote awareness and implementation of safe
sleep practices
• Develop community-based systems of support for
families
• Conduct statewide education campaigns to reduce
infant mortality
• Develop resources for health professionals specific
to infant mortality prevention
• Improve data collection and analysis
:
Three Main Causes of U.S. Infant Death:
Improve access to early,
comprehensive prenatal care
For purposes here, the state of South Dakota was divided
into four regions (Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, and
Southeast) and shows the correlation between IMR and
the percent of early prenatal
care. The goal of this visual
representation was to identify
whether a correlation does
exist between women who
received early prenatal care
in the specific county and the
infant mortality rate reported
in that county. The decision
to utilize prenatal care
early in the pregnancy is a
behavioral choice and could
be based on the level of
education a woman received
and/or the level of income.
Therefore, it is important to
understand which counties
have a reduced level of early
prenatal care to establish
an intervention to alter the